Wire-bound-box-blank machine.



- H. G. MEAD.

WIRE BOUND BOX BLANK MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 14, 1911.

1,16?,9l4, Patented Jan. 11, 1916.

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To all whom it may concern:

' UNITED STATES PATENT oFEIcE.

HOWARD G. MEAD, OF ST.'LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR T0 WILLIAM P. H-EALY, OF

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 14, 1911. Serial Nb. 649,377.

Be it known'that I, HOWARD G. MEAD, a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of the city of St. Louis, Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Wire-Bound-Box-Blank Machines, of which the following is a specifi- V cation.

My invention relates to wire-bound box blank machinery of the kind in which adjustable spacing blocks are employed. For example, in Patent Number 864,955, an endless traveling work-holder is provided for holding the cleats and sheets of veneer, and

for passing the same below the staplers. This traveling work-holder is provided with adjustable blocks for spacing the cleats apart endwise. It is the adjustability of these blocks to which my invention more particularly relates.

The object of my invention is to provide an adjustable spacing block which can be adjusted readily by hand and without the use of tools, whereby a machine of this kind may be changed very quickly for cleats of "different lengths, thus saving time and labor in the manufacture of boxes of this character, as will hereinafter more fully appear.

To these and other useful ends, my invention consists in matters hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawingsFigure 1 is a side elevation of a wire-bound box blank machine having spacing blocks embodying the principles of my invention.

Fi 2 is a ers ective on a lar er scale of a portion of one of the carrier chains of the said machine, showing one of my improved adjustable spacing blocks in place thereon. Fig. 3 is a plan of the said spacing block, on a still larger scale, showing a portion of said chain. Fig. 4 is a transverse section of the cam lever on line 44 in Fig. 3.

As thus illustrated, the machine shown in Fig. 1 is of the well known kind in which the blanks are carried on endless traveling chains A. vEach chain is composed of suitable links having inner side pieces a provided externally with longitudinal grooves a. The said chains are constructed and operated in any suitable, known or approved manner. The spacing blocks B on said chains are made to straddle the plates or inner side pieces a, and are adapted to space removable from the bottom well known manner. 1n accordance with vided with a cam b Patented Jan. 11, 1916.

in the inner end of. the block. The said'cam is held in place by a vertical pivot b that is of the block, andthat is preferably held in place by upsetting the metal of the block around the edge of the hole in which the pin is inserted, whereby nothing projects below the lower surface of the block. This pin or pivot can be easily removed, when it is necessary to remove the cam, by simply pressing the metal back from the lower end of the pin,

in any suitable manner. The said cams have handles or levers b that swing in horizontal planes, and that are curved to lie close to the chains to prevent them from catching on'the wires, or anyother portions of the machine. It will be understood that the handles 6 on the blocks of one chain point rearward, while those of the other chain point forward, whereby the'blocks are all alike. The cams Z) engage in the grooves 11 of the chains, and-when the levers b are in the position shown in Fig. 3, the blocks B are locked in place. When it is spacing blocks, in order to change the size of the box blank, as by using longer or shorter cleats, this is accomplished by simply pulling out the levers b and then, after the blocks are properly positioned, pushing the change each time requires less time and labor than heretofore. Thusthe efficiency of the machine is materially increased.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A machine for making wire-bound box blanks, adapted for use with cleats of different lengths, comprising blocks for spacing the cleats of the blank apart endwise, a chain, means for producing a step by step movement of the chain and blocks, and cams having handles for adjustably securing the blocks to said chain, and carried by portions of said blocks which are disposed at one side of the path of travel of the cleats.

2. A machine for making wire-bound box desired to change the distance between said 7 blanks, adapted for use of said chain, and means operated by said' levers for fixing the blocks to the chain, and carried by portions of said blocks which are disposed at one side of the path of travel of the cleats, said .chain havin means for insuring the correct position 0 the blocks thereon. I

3. A machine for making wire-bound box blanks,adapted for use with cleats of difien ent lengths, comprisingblocks forspacing the cleats of the blanks apart endwise, a chain, means for producing a step by step movement of the chain and blocks, and means pivoted on the blocks for fixing the latter on the chain, and carried by portions of said blocks which are disposed at one side of the path of travel of the cleats, the axes of said means extending in a common vertical plane at one side of said chain, said chain having eans for insuring the correct position of the blocks thereon.

a. A machine for making wire-bound box blanks, adapted for use with cleats of difl'erent lengths, comprising blocks for spacing the cleats of the blanks apart endwise, a chain, means for. producing a step by step movement of the chain and blocks, and lever actuated cam mechanism for securing the and carried by portions blocks on said chain,

are disposed at one side of said blocks which ofthepath of travel of the cleats, whereby the distance between said blocks may be changed at will, said'chain having, means for insuring the correct position of the blocks thereon. 5. A machine for making wire-bound box blanks, comprising blocks for spacing the cleats of the blanks apart endwise, a chain, and cams for adjustably securing the blocks to said chain, said chain having a side wall, and each block being split to straddle said wall, said ,wall and said cams cooperating to hold the blocks against upward movement.

with cleats of difierlevers anemia 6. A machine for making wire-bound box blanks, comprising blocks for spacing the cleats of the blanks apart endwise, a chain, levers pivoted on said blocks, and means. operated by said levers for fixing the blocks on the chain, said chain having a side wall, and each block being split to straddle said wall, said wall and said means cooperating to hold the blocks against'upward movement.

7. A machine for making wire-boundbox blanks, comprising blocks for spacing the cleats of the blanks apart endwise,.a chain, and means pivoted on the blocks for fixing the latter on the'chain, said chain having a side wall, and each block being split to straddle said wall, said wall and said means cooperating to hold the blocks against upward 4 curing the blocks on said chain, whereby the distance between said blocks may be changed at will, said chain having a side wall, and each block being split to straddle said wall,

said wall and sald mechanism cooperating to hold the blocks against upward movement.

9. A machine for making wire-bound boxblocks for spacing the" blanks, comprising cleats of the blanks apart endwise, a chain, each block beingsplit to straddle a part of the chain, and cams for adjustably securing the blocks to said chain, said cams having vertical axes.

10. A machine for making wire-bound box 4 blanks, comprising blocks for spacing the cleats of the blanks apart endwise, a chain, each block being split to straddle a the chain, and cams for adjustably securing the blocks to said chain, said cams being disposed along the inner side of said chain.

Signed by-me at St. Louis, Missouri, this 8th day of September, 1911.

HGWARD G. MEAD.

Witnesses: i

ltnancns UConnnnn, Linnm E. MEAD.

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